Team

PRESIDENT

Over the past 40 years, Paul Rottenberg has established a strong track record in the hospitality and development industries. From his first foodservice job as a dishwasher to creating and managing some of Iowa’s most beloved restaurant brands, hospitality is in Paul’s blood.

Among Paul’s many achievements include his award-winning work in the restoration of the landmark Temple for Performing Arts; the creation of Centro restaurant which helped spur a renaissance in downtown dining and commercial development; and highly recognized contributions to advancing the dining and hospitality culture of central Iowa.

Paul founded Orchestrate Hospitality in 2001. He has served on various boards and leadership committees and was named one of Des Moines’ most influential business leaders by the Des Moines Register.

Paul is a native of New Jersey and attended the University of Colorado, Boulder. He is married with grown children and enjoys travel and playing guitar.

CHEF PARTNER

George Formaro is the chef and restaurateur behind some of Des Moines’ most successful eateries. He is also the founder of the first artisan bakery in Iowa, South Union Bakery.

Raised in an Italian family on Des Moines’ east side, Formaro knew the power of good food in strengthening bonds among family, friends and business associates. His education in the restaurant trade began in several of Des Moines’ well-known restaurants as well as Des Moines Area Community College’s culinary arts program.

A six-time James Beard Award nominee, George never stops developing menus and restaurant concepts in his free time. Chef Formaro also has a keen interest in food history and culture. Thorough his private library of more than 7,000 historic cookbooks, he enjoys exploring forgotten recipes, our shared culinary heritage and the many ways cuisine ties communities together.

DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES

Jeanine Buckingham leads the human resources efforts for Orchestrate and its affiliated properties. Jeanine’s strong experience in hospitality includes restaurant and banquet management, including work launching both Centro and Hilton Garden Inn – Des Moines/Urbandale in a management role. Jeanine is involved with employee and manager training and consultation, recruitment and workshops. Jeanine has served on the board of groups including the Iowa Restaurant Association.

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Kori Teeter brings years of hospitality experience to her role of director of operations. After restaurant management at Raccoon River Brewing Company and hotel management at the historic Hotel Fort Des Moines, Kori spent three years as general manager of the Des Moines/Urbandale Hilton Garden Inn where she built it into a nationally top-ranked property. Following that role, Kori was named to her current position of director of operations for Orchestrate Hospitality where she oversees the company’s management teams and assists in the strategic planning for future projects.

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Joining the team in 2012, Adam Bartelt leads daily marketing and communications for Orchestrate’s client brands, overseeing branding, design, public relations, promotional strategy, guest engagement, and sponsorships. With a strong background in graphic design and communications, his prior experience includes disaster recovery communications for the State of Iowa and marketing initiatives for Iowa State University. Adam earned his degree from Central College in Pella, Iowa, and expanded his professional design work in London, UK. An active musician, he has served on local non-profit boards dedicated to music and culture across central Iowa.

CORPORATE CHEF

Chef Tom McKern serves as Corporate Chef for Orchestrate's portfolio of brands. He provides culinary leadership across the organization, overseeing menu development, recipe and cost management, operational standards, and team development. A graduate of the Iowa Culinary Institute at DMACC, Tom has worked at some of Des Moines' most beloved restaurants over the past 20 years including Jesse's Embers, The Urban Grill, Gateway Market & Cafe. Tom served as Executive Chef of Zombie Burger + Drink Lab from the restaurant's opening in 2011 until joining the Orchestrate leadership team in 2021.

CONTROLLER

Michelle Mathews brings years of accounting experience to the Controller position. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Simpson College with an Accounting major and minors in Marketing and Management. Her accounting experience has covered a wide variety of situations including work in non-profit and for-profit organizations as well as self-employment. Michelle oversees the accounting procedures and staff of Orchestrate’s team and properties.

MARKETING & ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

Angela Lose joined Orchestrate’s marketing team in 2018, bringing a creative and trend-forward approach to promoting the company’s portfolio of brands. She manages social media across Orchestrate’s properties, capturing photo and video content to keep guests engaged and informed. A Grand View University graduate, Angela developed her marketing expertise through roles with KCCI 8 News, Ballet Des Moines, and the Iowa Secretary of State’s office. She served six years on the Iowa Restaurant Association Education Foundation Board and was named one of the Iowa Restaurant Association's "40 Women to Watch" in 2022.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Kim Warner joined the Orchestrate Hospitality family in 2006, starting at Centro before later providing operational support for Django. In 2017, she transitioned to the Orchestrate Human Resources team, where she specializes in payroll, benefits administration, unemployment management, and employee support. She works closely with managers and team members across all Orchestrate properties, serving as a trusted resource and helping ensure a positive employee experience.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Keely Wiegert joined Orchestrate Hospitality in 2019, initially serving in key front-of-house roles, including management at Malo and Centro. A member of the Orchestrate Human Resources team since December 2021, she now coordinates onboarding, payroll, and benefits across all partner brands.

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